38 replies to this topic

[Sloan]

 

 

LA Streetcar Project Takes Another Step Forward

Los Angeles is moving one step closer to putting streetcars back onto downtown roads, more than 50 years after pulling them out.

Angelenos are being asked to tell city planners what they think of the plan during an open comment period that runs through August 9.

http://www.nbclosang...-386696221.html

[CNJRoss]

LA Weekly, 11/30/16:

Plans for Downtown L.A. Streetcar Get a Big Boost

 

Plans for a downtown streetcar have seemed far-fetched to some, but this week the L.A. City Council unanimously certified the project's environmental impact report — a major hurdle.

 

November was a good month for the streetcar. On Nov. 8, voters approved the transportation-focused retail tax hike known as Measure M. Among other things, the measure will provide $200 million for the downtown rail loop.

 

The approval of the report and of Measure M has pumped up the confidence of longtime streetcar booster José Huizar, who represents the area on the City Council. He believes this thing can be up and running by 2020. The council's approval "marks a very important milestone in bringing the beloved streetcar back to downtown Los Angeles,” he said in a statement. 

 

We're not there yet

Los Angeles Streetcar, Inc.

 

Continue here.

[Sloan]

 

 

Downtown LA streetcar opening may be pushed to 2021

 

Plans for a Downtown Los Angeles streetcar are still chugging along, but perhaps not as quickly as prospective riders might have hoped.

https://la.curbed.co...ening-date-2021

[Sloan]

 

 

Downtown L.A. Streetcar Aims for the Fast Track

 

A downtown streetcar system that once seemed like a far-off dream now looks more and more like it's going to take its place among new and redeveloped structures composing the rebirth of Los Angeles' core.

http://www.laweekly....service-8384778

[KevinKorell]

Downtown News, Los Angeles, CA, 7/24/18:

 

 

Downtown Streetcar Would Have 23 Stops, Cost Up to $306 Million

 

 

The price of the proposed streetcar system that would run through Downtown Los Angeles is now nearly $291 million, and would rise by another $15.6 million if an extension to Grand Avenue is added. Plans call for starting construction next year and finishing by 2021.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

Curbed Los Angeles, 7/26/18:

 

Price tag swells to $291M for Downtown Los Angeles streetcar

 

 

 

A new report for the Downtown Los Angeles Streetcar has revealed an even larger budget for the project—just under $291 million. That’s about $16.5 million more than an estimate for the project given last year.

 

 

Story

[KevinKorell]

My News L.A., 8/10/18:

 

L.A. Streetcar Project Called `Shovel-Ready’ With New Funding Plan

 

 

 

 

A four-mile streetcar through downtown Los Angeles moved closer to reality Friday after a $590 million funding plan outlined how a combination of federal grants, county Metro funds and local dollars could lead to groundbreaking on the project in the near future.

 

 

 

Article

[KevinKorell]

NBC Los Angeles, 8/11/18:

 

Proposed LA Streetcar Moves Forward With $590M Funding Plan

 

 

 

A four-mile streetcar through downtown Los Angeles moved closer to reality after a $590 million funding plan outlined how a combination of federal grants, county Metro funds and local dollars could lead to groundbreaking on the project in the near future.

 

 

Update

[KevinKorell]

A negative editorial in Los Angeles, CA Times, 8/18/18:

 

 

A downtown streetcar is not desired

 

 

Last week the Los Angeles City Council approved a nearly $600-million financial plan to build and operate a streetcar on a nearly four-mile loop in downtown. Yet despite the cascade of public dollars being pledged to the project, there’s still considerable skepticism over whether the streetcar will — or even should — be built.

 

 

Entire editorial

 

It's negative, definitely against a streetcar line built primarily to provide a circulator around downtown.  They do have some valid points.  Are they building it as a form of transit (streetcars are not rapid transit), or just a means to attract tourists? 

 

Witness New Orleans, whose streetcars are iconic and by far part of the fabric of that city.  Having ridden the entire system recently on LTRF last month, riding it is downright unpleasant because one feels that they are not getting anywhere. There is no attempt to keep to a schedule, or to get the streetcar moving from stop to stop. Operators seem happy to linger at a stop while customers who seem to care only about themselves take forever to board and alight.  Some ride the streetcar for one block, a block they could have walked easily, necessitating two consecutive stops of the streetcar.

 

In Los Angeles, the blocks are larger.  The distance from one block (and presumably one streetcar stop) to the next is longer. The ride might not be as monotonous as the vehicle might be able to pick up a little speed between stops.  But... does L.A. need another tourist lure?   I can see perhaps that the proposed streetcar might serve as a circulator, taking passengers from Metro light rail or heavy rail stops to points not served by rail.  But I think it will only be termed a success if it can do so quickly. While it may stimulate some transit oriented development not possible by the existing shuttle buses, the streetcar cost has to be weighed vs keeping the existing DASH shuttles.